SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CALLS ON GOVERNOR
TO BRING
LEGISLATURE IN FOR DECEMBER SPECIAL SESSION

More Cuts ‘Inevitable,’ Better to
Act Sooner Rather than Later

The Oklahoma Senate Republican Caucus today called on Governor
Brad Henry to call the Legislature into special session in December,
rather than waiting until January, as he suggested earlier this
week.

“It’s very clear that more reductions in spending are
inevitable,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn
Coffee, “and agency heads are awaiting our direction as
to how much their budgets will be reduced.

“We believe it is prudent, given the fiscal crisis facing
all state agencies, to come in, examine the numbers as an entire
body, and make the hard decisions sooner rather than later,”
he continued. “We have a good feel for the direction revenues
are heading, so why wait any longer?”

Coffee pointed out that Senate Appropriations Subcommittees have
been meeting over the past weeks, and getting reports from agency
heads projecting how cuts of 5%m 7.5% and 10% would impact their
agencies.

“Agency heads are willing to make the tough calls,”
Coffee said. “They just need to know when and how much. It’s
not a pleasant task, but we all understand the reality of the times
in which we’re operating.”

Coffee said that families across the state are prioritizing their
needs and making hard personal budget decisions around their kitchen
tables, and government needs to act accordingly. “This won’t
be easy or fun, but this is an opportunity for Oklahoma’s
elected leaders to assess our needs alongside our available resources,
and look at state spending through critical eyes.”

Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the Governor can call a special
meeting of the State Equalization Board, who would declare a budget
failure, at which time the Governor could call a Special Session
of the Legislature.
“We hope the Governor will act with great urgency on this
matter,” Coffee said. “Our caucus will stand with him
in support of his call, and will take on this important matter with
equal urgency.”